The Knights are sitting on 199 wins as a training partnership ahead of tomorrow’s meeting at Gore, but the two-month mark has just ticked over since they reached 199 with Skyfall’s win at Forbury Park on August 11.
Butt took just under two and a-half months to move from his 999th career driving win to No1000, which eventually came behind Ohoka Arizona in October 2010.
"Hopefully we can do it soon and hopefully it’s on Sunday," Geoff Knight said.
The logical chances for the Knights to kick through the 200-win mark tomorrow come in the c1 to c2 claimers, where they have Atom Hanover and The Charging Moa in a seven-horse field.
The Charging Moa finished sixth and Atom Hanover eighth behind Eamon Maguire at Forbury Park on October 6, but Knight is opting for Atom Hanover, who starts from barrier 4.
"It’s a big drop in grade for The Charging Moa and it’s been going better than it looks, but on paper, I like Atom Hanover, to be fair," he said.
"I think it’s a great chance for him and he’s working really well. I can’t split them but she’s got the worst of the draws so I’d go with Atom Hanover over her."
Atom Hanover never had a clear shot after getting stuck on the markers over the 2200m, and Knight felt like the 5yr-old had more to give.
"[Eamon Maguire] buggered off and left the rest of them behind and [Atom Hanover] wasn’t far from the rest of them so it was a good run."
It was a similar scenario for Zenmach when he started his campaign with a seventh at Forbury Park after getting back on the markers.
"Coming home in 26-and-a-bit sectionals when you’re sitting last, you’re no hope," Knight said.
The 4yr-old went to the Oamaru trials on Wednesday, and did exactly what the Knights had hoped.
"He went super at the trials tucked in behind Loose Cannon — he never pulled him out on purpose. He was hard held at the line and pushed them over the line.
"It’s a strong field — I wouldn’t be expecting him to just come out and win it — but I’m certainly expecting him to go a good race."
Zenmach is drawn barrier 4 and Knight thinks driver Rory McIlwrick may make use of the good marble.
"He’s got gate speed, so maybe we will go forward and look for a sit, but we’ll definitely put him in the race."
Seduce Me is a good place bet in race 4, especially after she showed good standing-start manners at the Oamaru trials.
"She needed the run really badly and just blew out in the last 50m to run second, but she’ll be a lot sharper for that run. She’ll be a good place bet, anyway."
